From Rivals to Romance

Why don't you like me?

They were sitting on the couch, alpha Brendon and Eric, talking with my father while I went to my room to get out of my pajamas.

I was so embarrassed when dad pointed out in front of them that I was still in my pajamas. I had turned red all over, making them laugh at my expense.

I ran upstairs to get cleaned up, grabbing the first t-shirt in my wardrobe, I paired it with shorts and quickly went down, as alpha was here to talk to both of us, not just with dad.

All of them turned to look at me when I arrived, making me blush again, remembering the earlier incident.

I went and sat beside my father, facing alpha and Eric. The similarities between them were striking, with the same blue eyes and the same sandy brown hair. They almost look like twins. While one of them had graying hair and a slight beard, the other one was younger-looking, with a clean-shaven look. Both of them are equally handsome.

“We came to invite you to the party that I am giving in honor of both of you getting accepted into the Arcane arts academy.” Alpha Brendon said. Great! I was hoping to avoid crowded areas, and hole up until I had to leave for the academy so that I would not cross paths with Cynthia.

It is not that I am afraid of Cynthia. I am afraid that I will kill that girl one of these days and my secret will be revealed to everyone. As an omega, killing an alpha will certainly raise questions that I would rather not answer.

I have imagined and had even dreamed about ripping her throat. As I smile blissfully at her unmoving body. She will beg me to show her mercy. To spare her the agony. I will bask in her cries…

“Anaya?” it was Eric pulling me out of my daydream. Now I can’t even live through my daydreams. Someone always interrupts them.

What was he saying?

The three of them were looking at me with a question on their expressions.

‘I am sorry, what did you say?” I asked.

“Congratulations,” he repeated. I laughed awkwardly. Then I remembered that I also had to congratulate him.

“Congratulations to you too.”

“Eric was going to go shopping, as the weather in Atarah is much colder. You can go with him if you want. That way you can both finish shopping together.”

“No.” I stood up shaking my head. I can’t go shopping with him. I have enough problems on my hand and adding Cynthia to the list doesn’t sound good.

I had forgotten that the one who asked was the alpha of the pack and had rushed to answer it.

Eric was trying to hide his smile by coughing. At the same time, Alpha Brandon was looking at me with wide eyes. No omega must have declined his offer until I decided to open my mouth.

“I just wanted to spend the rest of the time with my father. It’s just that I have never been away from him. And now I will have to leave for four years.” I stopped for a dramatic effect, sniffing a little to make it more realistic.

“I hope you understand.” I told Alpha Brendon and sat down beside dad looking sad. He nodded while Eric still had a knowing smile on his face as if he knew something others didn’t.

While alpha Brendon and dad had left to discuss about the university, Eric lingered in the doorway. I pretended I didn’t see him, hoping he would go away, but like the stubborn thing he is, he was still there. He looked towards making sure that our fathers were out of hearing range, because of their supernatural hearing.

“Why don’t you like me?” he asked. I looked at him and was going to make a joke, but then he seemed like he really wanted to know. There is nothing to not like about him. He is like a dream guy, for every girl, with a handsome face and those six-packs. Let's not talk about the six-packs. On top of that, he is an alpha!

But! There is always a but for a too good-to-be-true guys like him. There is Cynthia, then there is also a little, tiny problem with me lying about my whole identity. I am more than he thinks I am. When he finds out the baggage, the danger, I can bring into his life, he will never accept me. He can't handle me.

Because I couldn't tell him all of this, I just said, “Do you want the truth?” I asked him with a somber expression.

“Always,” he replied with a nod.

“Well, firstly, you are a horrible, horrible human being,” I said with a smirk so that he knows that I was being sarcastic, “then there is the matter of your face.” I paused to see his reaction. There was a beautiful smile on his face.

“What about my face?” he asked.

“There isn't anyone uglier than you in the whole pack!” I exclaimed.

“Really?” he said, rubbing his chin with a thoughtful expression on his face. We both looked into each other's eyes and a laugh escaped us. His eyes had lit up with excitement like a child's would when they heard a compliment. He was getting a little bit too excited. I should be clear that nothing can happen between us.

“Eric, you are an alpha, and I am an omega. You need someone who is stronger, who can take responsibility for the whole pack with you, knowing that nothing can happen between us,” I said sternly. So that he knows that I am being serious. He opened his mouth to say something.

“Nothing.” I said again, staring him in the eye to get my point across. Then I remembered that I was supposed to an omega and lowered my eyes.

“can't we be friends?” he sighed, leaning on the door.

“You know we can't.”

“Is it because of Cynthia?” I shrugged, not wanting to tell him as he already knows.